December’s garden gives
no clue about daffodils,
the saffron relief
of their shy heads emerging
from recently frozen ground
 
Now only winter looms
in the dry death rattle of leaves
just months ago trembling
green with life
Do not be sad
as we stumble from light
to darkness, our human
bodies' battleground for
the eternal tussle of
mind versus heart
 
Find solace in the knowledge
of tears feeding seed deep
in the soul’s invisible thaw
What we cannot understand
is what we learn by faith,
blundering our way into
selfhood through seasons
of grief and joy until
there is only one long day
radiant as the glint of
daffodil gold
 
 
From Movie Life (Finishing Line Press, 2011)
Used here with permission.